Breech-loading ordnance



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

T. YATES.

BREEGH LOADING ORDNANOL N0.'360,942. Patented Apr. 12, 1887.

a 1. m h 1 w m (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. YATES.

BREEOH LOADING ORDNANGE. No. 360,942. 'Patentqd Apr. 12,1887. 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE YATES, OF MILWAUKEE, VVISOONSIN.

BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360.942, dated April12, 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE YATEs, of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new ard usefulImprovements in Breech-Loading Ordnance, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to breech-loading ordnance; and the inventionconsists in certain improvements in the breech mechanism and devices tooperate as a gascheck, as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure l is a top plan view with the breech portion,shown in section.Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the breech portion, showing the breechclosed. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section showing thebreech-closing mechanism attached,and Fig. 4 a similar view with thebreech-closing mechanism detached. Fig. 5 is a transverse longitudinalsection illustrating one form of gas-check; and Fig. 6 is a verticalsection of another form of gas-check, shown detached. Fig. 7 is a rearface view of: the obturating or breech-closing plate, shown detached;and Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the lines of force or strain on thebreech mechanism.

My present invention is an improvement on the gun for which Patent No.243,421 was issued tome June 24, 1881, the object being to render thegun more perfect in details of construction and by the addition of somefeatures not shown in the original.

Fig. 1 represents a gun made to a scale as built for use, and in which Arepresents the chase or front part of the barrel or body, and B the rearor breech portion, the gun being made of cast-iron or steel, and solid,or built up, as may be preferred.

In my former patent the breech-closing mechanism consisted of a shell orcase divided longitudinally into two parts, of such a form and size asto fit around and inclose the rear or breech portion when closed, theybeing pivoted at their front ends centrally to the body of the gun insuch manner as to permit them to be swung laterally to open or close thebreech,and having neartheir front an internal annular shoulder toengage,when closed,with a corresponding shoulder on the breech portionof the gun,and hold them against the force generated by the powder infiring the gun, a pivoted lever, F, being used for opening and closingthe same.

In the present instance I use the parts the same as before; but insteadof enlarging the whole rear portion of the gun to form theretaining-shoulder, I now provide the gun with a series of annularshoulders, g, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8, these shoulders beingmore or less in number, though in practice I find that two aresufficient for guns of the smaller sizes, while more may be used on gunsof large size.

It will be observed that the shoulders g are made to project from theexterior face or surface ofthe body of the gun,so as not to weaken thelatter, as would be the case if they were formed by cutting away themetal of the body. It is obvious they might be formed byturning groovesin the body of the gun; but in that caseit would be necessary toincrease the diameter of the breech portion of the gun in order tosecure the same strength, and hence I prefer the plan shown.

The shells, or, as I prefer to designate them, clan1ps, O O are madewith a corresponding series of annular shoulders, f, as shown, theopposing faces of the shoulders f and g both being formed at a rightangle to the axial line of the gun, so that when the clamps O O areclosed their shoulders f will rest solidly against the shoulders g, thisbeing rendered possible by the fact that the clamps O 0 when opened orclosed swing in the arc of a circle of which the pivots b are thecenter. It will therefore be seen that as the shells or clamps are swungapart to open 'the breech their shoulders f, moving in the are of acircle, as described, will move gradually away from the shoulders g,and, when closed, will in reverse manner be gradually moved toward theshoulders g, and thus be made to seat themselves firmly against theshoulders g by merely closing the clamps or bringing them together. Therear faces of the shoulders f and g are made inclined or beveled, asshown, to enable the clamps to be opened and closed readily, and, asshown in Fig. 3, there is a slight space left between these inclinedfaces. and also between the exterior of the gun and the interior of theclamps at all points except at the points where the pivots b are appliedbetween the faces of the shoulders f and g and at the rear end of thegun. The object of leaving this space, which should be aboutone-twentieth of an inch, is to prevent the vibration of the metal ofthe gun caused by the discharge from being transmitted direct to theclamps O, and which might tend to throw them'open. The clamps are madeto fit close upon the gun at the points where the pivots b are located,so as to prevent the clamps from sagging when opened, as they otherwisewould, and which would cause the shouldersf and g to strike and preventthe clamps from closing properly. So, too, they are made to fit snuglyat the rear end or breech and at the shouldersfand so as to hold thebreech parts firmly in place to resist the strain or force generated bythe dis charge.

I use the pivoted lever F, with its curved slots engaging a pin, n,projecting from the under side of each clamp O, the same as in my formerpatent, and as shown in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. I alsoapply a springlatch, 61, to one of the clamps, it being arranged toengage in a recess in the other clamp, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thispreferably being located above the bore, so as to be out of the way whenloading the gun or manipulating the breech mechanism, the object orfunction of this latch being merely to hold the clamps in place when thegun is being moved about and prevent their being shaken open.

In using the gun as shown in my previous patent, I made use of abreech-plug or cartridge-head to prevent the escape of gas at thebreechybut I now add what I'term an ob- .turating-plate, which, asshown, consists of a solid plate, I, of metal. (Shown detached in Fig. 6and in place in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5.) This plate is hinged to thebreech of the gun by a pivot, 0, below the bore, so as to enter and fitthe same when closed, both it and the bore being slightly beveled toenable the plate to readily swing into and out of its seat in the rearend of the bore, as shown. At its center I secure a vent plug or tube,e, to receive the the friction-primer for firing the charge, this tube 6being made of the requisite diameter to give it the necessary strength,and of sufficient length to project slightly beyond the rear ends orface of the clamps O 0 when the latter are closed, as shown in Figs. 1,3, and 8. A projection 'or shoulder, o is formed on the rear face ofthis plate to strike against the breech end of the gun when the plate isswung downward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the tube 6 servingalso as ahandle for opening and closing the obturating-plate I. It willof course be understood that the pivot o of the plate I should belocated in rear of the center of gravity of said plate, so that it willremain in place when closed, and also that a suitable notch or recesswill be made in the adjoiningv edges of the clamps O O at the pointwhere the tube e rests when the parts are closed, and

also thata small recess for the shoulder T will be formed on the innerfaces of the clamps at the proper place.

Various forms or kinds of gas-checks may be used in connection with thisbreech mechanism. In Fig. 3 I have shown a gas-check consisting of acup-shaped disk, t, made of steel or other suitable material, as beingsecured to the face of the plate I, it being held fast by nut, c, on theinner end of tube 6, which disk It, as shown, the disk it being shown insection detached in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a gas-check consisting of an expanding ring, E,set in an annular recess formed in the rear end of the chamber of thegun, its front edge being reduced in thickness, so as to be more readilyexpanded by the pressure of the gas and be thereby forced outwardagainst the surrounding wall and prevent the escape of gas at thatpoint.

The inner face of this ring is beveled or made of an ogee form, asshown, so that the gas will force it backward at the same time that itexpands its front or thinner edge, and in the rear face of ring E, Iform a V-shaped annular groove. In the face of plate I, I form anannular groove, in which I fit a ring, 1), of copper or other suitablemetal, the face of which projects somewhat from or beyond the face of.plate I, as shown, and on the projecting face of the ring 11, I form anannular projection, cor-' responding in form to the groove in ring E, soas to fit snugly therein, as shown, the parts being forced and heldtogether just in proportion to the pressure of the gasinthe chamber.

A joint thus constructed is more effective than one composed of twoplain faces, and thus the .ring E, in connection with the other parts,operates as a perfect gas-check.

WhileIhave shown but one ofthese interlocking grooves and projections,it is obvious that more may be used, if desired, and this feature may beap .plied to any style of breech-loading gun in which the breech-closingdevice,whether plate or plug, is put in behind the ringEand movedforward against it, regardless of how the breech-closing plug or deviceis held in place against the ring E, whether by swinging clamps, asshown, or by screw-threads, or by a key or wedge. As shown in Fig. 5,the hole in the ring E is made as large or a little larger than thechamber of the gun, to enable the charge to be inserted through it, itbeing understood that the ring E remains in place when the plate I isremoved or swung open.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the charge of powder as being inclosed in a case,G, which may be made of compressed fiber, prepared paper, or of metal,as may be found most convenient and suitable. To make this serve asagascheck and prevent it from cracking or rupturing at the angle aroundits base, I make its rear end concave on its exterior, as shown in Fig.4, the object being to secure thereby a surplus of material, which, whenforced back projects through a hole in the center of the against plate Iby the gases within will tend to expand the rear end of the case andforce the material outward all around at the angle tight against thesupporting-walls of the chamber at that point, and thus cause it toeffectually pack the joint and prevent its being ruptured; or, as isobvious, the obturatingplate I may have a lip, similar to that on ringE, formed on its inner face, to serve as a gascheck; but I prefer tomake the gas-check, whatever its form, detachable, so that it may bechanged from time to time as may be necessary.

The advantages of this method of constructing the breech mechanism are,first, its great simplicity, consisting, as it does, of so few pieces,easy and simple to make; second, its great strength, for, as the clampsand the locking-shoulders are applied to the exterior of the gun, theypresent a much greater area of bearing-surface than do the threads ofthe interrupted screw so generally used in breechloading ordnance at thepresent time, and the extent of surface of the clamps enables them to bemade comparatively light or thin on their sides, thus rendering the gunsymmetrical in appearance. The simplicity and ease of its operation isalso a great point in its favor, especially as the parts are not liableto bind or stick fast by the expansion caused by rapid firing andconsequent heating.

On examining the diagram, Fig. 8, it will be seen that there is notendency of the clamps G G to be forced open by the discharge as mightat first sight be thought, because all the rearward force of the chargeis brought to bear upon that portion-of the clamp within the circledescribed by the bore, and as the clamps are held by the shoulders 9upon the exterior of the gun the strain or force will be transmittedfrom the clamps to the shoulders g in the directions indicated by thedotted lines, and consequently the force exerted on the clamps in rearof the bore will tend to draw them together and make them hug the gunthe tighter. The lever F is used merely as a means of opening andclosing the clamps, and, being left loose or unfastened, does not in anymanner hold the clamps closed. So, too, the latch d is only designed tohold the clamps from being accidentally opened in moving or handling thegun; and both the latch and the lever may be dispensed with, so far asholding the clamps closed when the gun is fired is concerned, as hasbeen proven by firing the gun with these parts disconnected. Anotheradvantage of these clamps-is that when the gun is used on shipboard, andwhere the gun is liable to be turned more or less on its side by therolling or pitching of the vessel, the clamps being connected by thelever F if they move at all must move together, and as they exactlycounterbalance each other they are not liable to swing about, as is thehinged support for the screw breech-plug and the hinged tray for thecharge ordinarily used on breech-loading guns of large caliber. It alsoenables the bore of the gun to be utilized its entire length, with theexception of the small space occupied by the obturating-plate, and thusI secure a gun which has greater length of bore in proportion to thetotal length than can be secured by any of the systems now in vogue.Moreover, by this plan the strain,which in the guns using the screw-plugis brought to bear on interior Where the threads of the plug engage withthose at the breech end of the bore, is transferred to the exterior, sothat the only longitudinal strain on interior of the gun is simply thatdue to the friction of the shot, and this in guns lined by theinsertionof atube or tubes is of great importance, as it enables the tubes to beinserted from the rear without screw-threads, and with simply one ormore shoulders to prevent any forward movement, thus still furthersimplifying and oheapening the construction of the gun. This is ofspecial advantage in converting muzzle-loading guns to breech-loaders,and in which case it is now generally thought desirable to linecast-iron guns with a steel tube.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1.Thecombination,in abreech-loadinggun, of the barrel or body of the gunprovided with a series of exterior annular shoulders, g, and the pivotedbreech-clamps O 0, provided with a corresponding series of annularshoulders], said shoulders having their abutting faces arranged at rightangles to the axial line of the gun, and having their rear facesinclined, said parts being constructed and arranged to operatesubstantially as shown and described.

2. Thecombinatiominabreech-loadinggun, of the barrel or body of the gun,the pivoted breech-clamps O O, and the obturatingplate I, provided withthe vent-plug c, said parts being constructed and arranged for jointoperation, substantially as shown and described.

3. Thecombinatiominabreeoh-loading gun, of the breech-clamps O O,pivoted to the body of the gun by vertical pivots, so as to swinglaterallyin opening and closing, and provided with the internal annularshoulders,f,arranged to engage with the corresponding annular shoulders,g, on the gun, and the obturatingplate I, hinged to the gun below itsbore, the said parts being arranged for joint operation, substantiallyas shown and described.

4. The obturating-plate I, hinged to the rear end of the gun andprovided with the shoulder r and vent-plug e, in combination with thebreech-clamps G O, pivoted to the body of the gun and provided with theannular shoulders f, arranged to engage with corresponding annularshoulders, g, on the breech portion of the gun, said parts beingconstructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

5. In combination with the breech-clamps O O, pivoted to the body of thegun and otherwise constructed as described, the spring- -1atch (1,arranged to lock the clamps together and prevent their accidentalmovement when the gun is being moved, substantially as described.

6. The cornbination,in abreechloadinggun, of an expansion-ring, E, and abreechelosing I plate or device arranged to be thrust or forced inbehind and toward said ring, the abutting faces of said ring andbreech-closing plate or device being provided with one or more intertolocking grooves and projections, substantially as andfor the purpose setforth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

THEODORE YATES.

' Witnesses:

WALTER S. DODGE,

ANDREW PARKER.

